Greetings! Ryan Spilborghs' Beard here, meeting you on another fine Sunday with this week's installment of Beard Shavings. It has been a fine week for Ryan and the Colorado Rockies: the club went 5-1 this week, including an historic game in San Diego, and Ryan hit .357 with four runs scored and 2RBI, as well as turning in one of the most miraculous catches in the history of the galaxy.
The Rockies' recent streak of good play has them at a 9-8 record, positioned four games behind the stalwart Diamondbacks nine, who continue to play inspired baseball. The remainder of the NL West looks just as the stars have revealed it to be for the balance of the season: Los Padres and the Trolley Dodgers close behind in third and fourth, and the Giants alone in the South Beach Cellar, where they will remain. The Rockies have also had their first winning road trip of the season, having won five games of a total of nine (with one yet to be played this afternoon). The sunny outlook continues for this week, as they return home for games with the Phillies and Cubbies (two teams curiously named after immature, non-threatening animals) and then a visit to Los Angeles and the struggling Trolley Dodgers.
Certainly, talk this week was focused on the 22-inning match played in San Diego, the longest game in the major leagues in 15 years. Although a 22-inning game is but a blink of an eye to the eternal Beard, it is evidently a very long time for humans to retain their focus on the task at hand. This explains both the emptied stands at Petco Park, as well as the error-filled inning by los Padres that led to their loss. The Rockies, however, responded admirably to the greatness with which I have encircled them, and perservered!
If you seek further proof of the Rockies greatness relative to los Padres, I offer a recap of each team's next game: los Padres traveled a mere 350 miles to Arizona, where they were soundly defeated 9-0 (managing a mere three hits), while the Rockies traveled 1500 miles to Houston (losing two hours on the clock) and, with a lineup consisting of only three regulars, scored six runs in the first inning en route to an 11-5 manhandling of the Astros. This is an example of what I strive to bring to the Colorado Rockies... I take the greatness that is already within them and channel it, through the perfectly sculpted facade of Ryan Spilborghs, to the sort of level that allows them to travel halfway across the North American continent and defeat a team in their own stadium a mere sixteen hours after a grueling six-hour game. The Power of the Beard is real, dear readers. Bathe yourselves in it as the Rockies have, and perhaps even you, too, can mirror their greatness.
Speaking of greatness, the week was ended with another Rockies victory in Houston, this one punctuated by one of the most miraculous catches the sport has ever seen! Naturally I, the Beard, had the perfect vantage point to see this play as it happened (there are distinct advantages to being on Ryan's face. There are disadvantages also, but I shall save their discussion for another entry).
Allow me to explain what happened: Ryan and I got a great jump towards the ball, and as Ryan extended his arm to the heavens, the ball found itself cradled within his glove as a baby in her mother's arms. The ever-vengeful forces of gravity conspired to draw him back towards the earth, and as he struck the ground, the ball popped free of the glove. Knowing that should the ball strike the grass the batter would be awarded a hit, Ryan, with a subtle turn of his shoulder, thrust his open shirt towards the ball (Ryan habitually keeps the top button of his jersey unbuttoned, in constant readiness for just such a situation). The baseball fell into his shirt, and there it stayed, safe in Spilborghs' bosom, until his right hand was able to retrieve it and display it to the umpire to verify the legality of his catch.
Because of the limitations of modern video technology, the correct angle was unfortunately not available to the television viewer. This has led to much doubt regarding this play.. but when doubt rules the day, the victor carries faith at his side. Houston fans are filled with doubt (as demonstrated by their vocal displays aimed at noble Spilborghs), and well they should be... they have little greatness to bolster their faith. Rockies fans must keep doubt at bay, and in its place at all times, faith. Faith in the 2008 Rockies, my dear readers, shall not be misplaced. THE BEARD HAS SPOKEN!
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